Ocihma/opsis.] BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. 271 



been published concerning the economy of this species ; the host-larvae 

 were from IMundham, and the only parasite which survived emerged in 

 July, 1 88b. 



In September, 1901, .Mr. H.J. Charbonnier sent me from Bristol a 9 

 of this species, with immaculate antennae, saying it " results from a small 

 lepidopterous larva, name unknown, which we found here in May, with an 

 ichneumon larva attached like a sort of collar round its neck, between the 

 second and third segments." A rough sketch of Bridgman's places the 

 parasite in about the same position. " The parasite was very firmly 

 attached and extended three-quarters or a little less round his victim's 

 neck. The lepidopterous larva was very active and did not seem at all 

 inconvenienced." He also sent the parasite's cocoon, which is still 

 attached to the host's web and the dead host-larva, of which only the 

 shrivelled skin remains, still with the skin of the parasitic larva attached. 

 The cocoon is not remarkable ; it is white with a browner tint than the 

 web, externally rough and cottony, internally smooth and shining, cylin- 

 drical, thrice longer than broad and 3^ mm. in length. 



1 am obliged to Dr. Chapman for the following amplification of the 

 above notes on the economy of this interesting species {in Hi. 20th March, 

 1907). "Some Tortrix larvae (possibly those of T.pronubana — cf. E.JM.M. 

 1906, p. 12) on Eiionv/niis, sent from Heme Hill by Mr. Rayner, had ex- 

 ternal parasites. The lar\ae were three in number and were received Feb- 

 ruary 25th, 1907. The parasites were one to each larva, on one side of 

 the thorax in an incision and were about one millimetre long, transparent 

 whitish, like hymenopterous larvae, head downwards and almost under- 

 neath. On March 5th they had grown nearly two millimetres long, curled 

 round the side of the lar\ae, with the head ventral or almost round on the 

 other side. In one case the parasite was in the i — 2 thoracic incision, in 

 the other in the 2 — 3 incision with the head attached between the legs of 

 the lar\a, the tail of the parasite almost on the larval dorsum. There 

 were now only two Tortrix larvae, the third with its parasite ]ia\ing been 

 eaten bv the others or one of them, only a portion of its head being dis- 

 covered. The two remaining larvae were then separated and placed in a 

 temperature of 75F, and were not looked at till 8th March, when the pro- 

 gress made was astonishing. There were now no 7orin'x lar\ae but two 

 ichneumon cocoons, each containing a pupa of the parasite. The cocoon 

 of very transparent but close textured silk was about 10 mm. long and 

 rather wide and roomy, the pupa inside about 6.5 mm. long and very 

 active when disturbed, with the eyes already brown. The cocoon con- 

 tained a black-brown spot — ? faeces — at the end, and also the skin cast 

 when pupating. The remains of the Tortrix larva are brown and shriv- 

 elled, about 3 mm. long and have attached the cast skins of the parasites, 

 in precisely the j^osition and of about the size when seen on March 5th. 



